Raving Toy Maniac

April 2012 - CustomCon 31 (Spring 2012) is coming soon! But if you just can't wait, why not take a walk down memory lane and look over the previous thirty CustomCon events.

Some of the more memorable moments for me were the Justice League Unlimited: Locker Room from CustomCon 16, the use of a Brett Favre figure in a Buffy the Vampire Slayer custom from CustomCon 21, and Sillof's many Steampunk interpretations, including this one from Dune from CustomCon 24.

April 2012 - Of all the aliens that have invaded Earth in Marvel Comics over the years -- the Skrulls, the Kree, the Chitauri, the Dire Wraiths -- none are quite so unpleasant as the Brood. But that unpleasantness makes them the subject of some great stories, which is why the next series of Marvel Minimates features the Brood alongside their frequent foes, the Uncanny X-Men!

April 27, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer Urban-Collector has several new items of interest to collectors:

This week we are featuring new pre-orders including The Noble Collection Dark Knight Rises prop replicas, Bowen Designs Black Suit Spider-Man statue and Universal Monsters figures!

Featured Pre-Orders

• Spider-Man Black Costume Museum Statue
• Angel Original Statue Bowen Designs
• DC Comics Super Heroes Batgirl Bust

MetaCon Announces Power Rangers Stars Jason Faunt and Jessica Rey

Bloomington, Minnesota - April 23, 2012 - MetaCon 2012, the newest and hottest comic, sci-fi, and anime con to come to Minneapolis is excited to announce stars of Power Rangers: Time Force and Power Rangers: Wild Force, Jason Faunt and Jessica Rey, will be appearing at the 2012 Meta Convention. MetaCon will gather thousands of fans of TV, comics, sci-fi, anime, and popular culture at the Doubletree by Hilton in Bloomington, Minnesota for a three-day weekend celebrating fan culture. Jason and Jessica will be joined by numerous other guests soon to be announced, in addition to previously announced anime-star Todd Haberkorn and Internet hacker YTCracker. MetaCon lasts for three days, from August 31 to September 2, 2012.

Walmart Joins Forces with Marvel's The Avengers to Transform Stores into a Super Hero's Playground

Super Hero Augmented Reality Mobile App Delivers First Integrated In-Store Gaming Experience

BENTONVILLE, Ark., April 26, 2012 -- Fans of Marvel's The Avengers, prepare for game play! Beginning today, in advance of the film release of Marvel's The Avengers on May 4, only Walmart customers will have access to the Super Hero Augmented Reality (AR) game featuring their favorite Avengers, including Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, The Hulk, Hawkeye and Black Widow. This new "Super Hero AR" app is available now for download at the iTunes App Store and Android Market. Once downloaded, customers have instant access to Hawkeye, and only from the aisles of their local Walmart stores, customers can then "unlock" the superpowers of the five remaining Avengers and ultimately save the world.

ELVIS PRESLEY LICENSING SEES CONTINUED GROWTH IN INTERNATIONAL MARKETS AND FUN NEW WAYS FOR FANS TO CELEBRATE THE KING

Demand for Elvis-themed product attributed to use of social networks and special events to grow fan base by exposing consumers to the movies, music and imagery of the King of Rock ‘n' Roll.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (APRIL 12, 2012) – The worldwide licensing program of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. continues to see growth with hundreds of new products being launched by more than 260 official licensees around the globe. Included is significant new activity from six international agents as well as growth and new products from domestic licensees.

Exciting new products include apparel, books, music, a 4D film, and more targeting Elvis fans of all ages.

Elvis and his legacy of rockin' music are being celebrated in a new multi-level progressive jackpot slot machine from International Game Technology (IGT) unveiled recently at the Global Gaming Expo. A jukebox included in the game allows players to sing along to Elvis' hits while they play.

Walmart Announces "Pay with Cash" for Online Purchases

First major retailer to allow customers to pay cash for items online at Walmart.com without a credit, debit or prepaid card.

SAN BRUNO, Calif., April 26, 2012 -- Walmart today announced the launch of its "Pay with Cash" offering for online orders at Walmart.com in the United States. Now, customers can shop a broader selection of items online -- hundreds of thousands more items beyond its stores -- at Walmart.com and pay for them with cash at all Walmart stores in the U.S. and also in Neighborhood Markets. Walmart is the first major retailer to offer online purchases without the need for banking services or a credit, debit or prepaid card. "Pay with Cash" will help millions who rely on cash transactions, as well as those who are wary of using credit cards online, to shop Walmart's affordable and expanded online merchandise.

April 26, 2012 - Listed below are the toy (and child-related) recalls from this week; these links go to the official announcements on the Consumer Product Safety Commission web site.

Target Recalls Bunny Sippy Cups Due to Injury Hazard

Manhattan Group Recalls Baby Rattles Due to Choking Hazard

Girls' Jackets Recalled by Louise Paris; Waist Drawstrings Pose Entanglement Hazard; Sold Exclusively at Ross Stores

Specialized Bicycle Components Recalls Bike Brake Levers Due to Crash Hazard

Blog post about pool safety - Drowning is Silent: Portable Pools

HEROCLIX ONLINE RELEASES MARVEL'S THE AVENGERS MOVIE SET

Provides Codes for Virtual Figures Within Physical Sets

Hillside, N.J. & Cary, N.C. - April 26, 2012 - Wizkids/N.E.C.A., the makers of HeroClix Online today announced the arrival of the game's latest Marvel collection, Marvel's The Avengers, which adds 16 new figures to the online game and are also available through codes in physical sets.

Joining the current line-up of Marvel characters, Marvel's The Avengers Starter Pack figures include Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, Black Widow, Hawkeye and Hulk. Thor, Hulk, Nick Fury, Captain America, Iron Man, Agent Coulson, Skrull Infiltrator, Hawkeye, Tony Stark and Heimdall are also available as Single-Figure Boosters.

Offering players an alternative way to collect, free codes for the virtual Marvel's The Avengers Starter Pack can be found in physical Marvel's The Avengers HeroClix Starter Packs. Additionally, codes for individual, random, virtual Gravity Feed Singles can be obtained through physical Gravity Feed Single-Figure Foil Packs or Booster sets.

For more information on HeroClix Online, visit http://hco.heroclix.com/.

Hasbro Teams Up with Global Pop Phenomenon One Direction to Debut Toy and Game Collection

Fashion Dolls, Figures, and More Will Be Available Fall 2012

PAWTUCKET, R.I. -- April 24, 2012 -- Hasbro, Inc. announced today it has entered into agreement with worldwide musical sensation One Direction to produce a new line of toys and games based on the members of the popular boy band. Quickly becoming one of today's hottest musical groups, One Direction's debut album "Up All Night," which features the hit songs "What Makes You Beautiful," and "One Thing," rose swiftly to the top of pop charts across the world. With a large, dedicated fan base, including more than 4.7 million Facebook fans and 3.1 million Twitter followers, tickets for the group's debut tour in the U.K. sold out within minutes prompting expansion into tour dates in North America, Australia, and New Zealand.